San Jose Sharks on Bay Area Attitude

Since they arrived in the bay area in 1991 the San Jose Sharks have carved thier own nitch in the bay area sports scene and have gained a national reputation for thier large, vocal, spirited fanbase that is unrivaled anywhere in professional sports.

Click on the shark head tunnel to hear "Are You Ready For This"

Established: 1991

Compaq Center @ San Jose

525 West Santa Clara Street

San Jose, CA 95113

Capacity: 17,493

President/CEO: Greg Jamison

General Manager: Dean Lombardi

Head Coach: Darryl Sutter

Team Colors: Deep Pacific Teal, Black, Shimmering Gray, and White

Pacific Division Champions: 2001-2002

History Of Nickname

Of more then 200 names submitted by the fans, "Sharks" was chosen. A shark is nature's perfect killing machine. A shark suggests speed, power, intelligence, and aggression, qualities the franchise looks for in anyone who represents them. The Northern California coast is also home to one of the world largest populations of sharks.

Patrick Marleau and Marco Sturm are two of the many young talented players the Sharks boast. Marleau has developed into a reliable center with game breaking speed and surprising toughness given the finesse style he plays. Sturm is a German-born winger who has allready been to one all-star game and provides solid two-way play night in and night out for the Sharks. Both players are major building blocks in the Sharks aspiration of someday bringing the Stanley Cup to the Bay Area.

Owen Nolan is one of the NHL's top power forwards. Owen's always been known for his goal-scoring ability and his unmatched agressiveness. Owen posesses a monster shot, unrivaled determination, and unmatched leadership qualities. As captain, Owen Nolan leads by example, for there is nothing he can't bring to a hockey team. Owen Nolan can score goals, set plays up, take punishment, give punishment, and play exceptionally well in his own end. Owen Nolan also had the distinct honor of winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Every team needs a leader, and the San Jose Sharks have one of the best in Owen Nolan.

At the 2000-2001 season's trading deadline, the Sharks made a move that sent a message throughout the NHL that they are indeed a legitimate cup contender when they acquired superstar scorer Teemu Selanne. The "Finnish Flash" is an explosive skater with gifted hands that can turn a play that looks like nothing into a scoring chance. Seeing as what Teemu has done in the past while playing for less competitive teams, there is no telling what contributions he could make for a contender like the San Jose Sharks.

Teemu congratulates Marco Sturm along with Brad Stuart after a clutch goal in Colorado.

Of course, contending teams need that dependable, playmaking center. Vincent Damphousse brings exactly that to the Sharks. Vinny is an exceptional puck handler with an uncanny ability to get the puck to his teammates in the tightest of situations. Vinny is also exceptional in the faceoff circle and a quiet leader in the locker room.

A fan favorite wherever he goes, Mike Ricci is invaluble to any team as a playmaker. Mike will, when needed, win that crucial faceoff, throw that big hit, kill penalties, and even throw in an occasional goal or two. But one keeps wondering, is Mike Ricci so popular due to his playing ability? Or is it that long-ass hair?

Throughout his NHL career Scott Thornton was considered a solid third or fourth line grinder. However upon arriving in San Jose Scott has blossomed into a quality power forward with a scoring touch since being put on a line with Mike Ricci and Niklas Sundstrom. Although Scott is now a capable scorer, he has not shyed away from the physical, rugged style of play he became known for. Signing Scott Thornton has so far proven to be a shrewd move by manager Dean Lombardi.

Here is the biggest baddest Shark on the ice. Bryan Marchment has won over Sharks fans with his overwhelming physical prescence on the ice. "Mush" is a nasty, physical defenseman that can deliver punishment with the best of them. If any opposing skaters get in his way, "Mush" usually does exactly that to them; turn them into mush.

Marcus Ragnarrson has quietly developed into one of the most sound defensive players in the NHL. Raggs is invaluble on the penalty kill and is always on the ice whenever the opposing team puts thier best line out there.

If you want to be a Stanley Cup contender, then you need a franchise goaltender. Well when Steve Shields went down with an injury early in the 2000-2001 season, the Sharks found thier franchise goaltender in Evgeni Nabokov. The rest of that season Nabby became a money goaltender and his performance earned him the Calder trophy as the NHL rookie of the year. There has been no sophmore slump for Nabby though, for in the short time he has played he became the Sharks franchise leader in shutouts and has set and/or broken many old club goaltending records. He even has the first ever goal scored by a Sharks goaltender. Believe it or not, Nabby is just getting started too. Expect Evgeni Nabokov to be a fixture in net for the Sharks for many years to come, and to become one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.

Welcome to the Shark Tank, argubly the most exciting and electric building in all the National Hockey League. Every new arena that goes up tries to live up to the Tank's standards.

When in the Tank, or anywhere in downtown San Jose for that matter, watch out for the clown prince of the NHL, S. J. Sharkie!!!